Who is John Galt? Do you know?

If you don't know the answer to the famous question, "Who is John Galt?" then you are indeed, in the dark. The quote comes from Ayn Rand's epic story, Atlas Shrugged. And now 52 years after the book was published, the fictional story is quickly turning into Non-Fiction.

If you've been reading and keeping up with my blog, you've probably seenth my references to John Galt. And wondered what in the heck is is guy ranting about. Frankly, I've been "ranting" about the similarity between Ayn Rand's classic story and the current economic conditions and government responses. And the quote "Who is John Galt" is a reference to the classic that only those who have read the story really understand. But it wasn't until I recently came across an article by Stephen Miller, 'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years, that I realized how prophetic the book was truly becoming.

One the lines that jumped out at me from the research in Miller's article was that according to the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club, Atlas Shrugged is the second most influential book in its readers lives (second only to the Bible).

That's a powerful statement - for a "fictional" story.

So the question is, "Have you read it?" Why not? To be frank with you, even if you don't agree with what Ayn Rand's theories, you should read the book. If for no other reason, it arm you with the information you need to argue against those who do believe. But I won't lie to you - it isn't an quick read. With over 1000 pages of very small print, it is a daunting task. But well worth the effort. The good news, even though it's long, it is an easy read. It won't overwhelm you with deep language or a complex plot. Though, even if you are fast reader, I would plan to dedicate a full month to get through it.

In any case, whether you read it or not, please take a couple moments and read the article by Stephen Moore that was featured in the Wall Street Journal on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. He does a wonderful job of encapsulating the lesson of the story - in a very brief and enlightening article.